KEY TAKEAWAYS: NOMA will present the first monographic exhibition of New Orleans artist Hayward L. Oubre Jr. The show features 48 sculptures, paintings and prints spanning Oubre’s career. Works are on loan from major institutions including the Met and National Gallery of Art. The exhibition runs January 30 through May 3, 2026, with public programs and events. The New Orleans Museum of Art will present the first monographic exhibition of the work of Hayward L. Oubre, Jr. (1916–2006) with Hayward Oubre: Structural Integrity. An American modernist, Oubre was born in New Orleans and was the first student to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Dillard University. Hayward L. Oubre, Jr. (American, 1916–2006), Equilibrium, 1969. Acrylic and acrylic resin on canvas, 30 x 24 in. Collection of Carla and Cleophus Thomas, Jr. Image credit: Erin Croxton. Image courtesy New Orleans Museum of Art. “This exhibition is an important reexamination of American modernism from the vantage point of the South—and through the eyes of a New Orleans–born artist,” Susan M. Taylor, The Montine McDaniel Freeman Director of NOMA, said in a news release. Predominately known for his sculpture, he transformed wire hangers into three-dimensional works of art. The show will feature 48 sculptures, paintings, and prints by Oubre. The exhibit includes pieces on loan from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the National Gallery of Art, and the High Museum of Art—as well as major collections of African American art. “Oubre’s work demonstrates the vital role of Southern artists and Black artists within American modernism. This presentation at NOMA will offer visitors an overdue look at Oubre’s work and the opportunity to draw connections with other important artists represented in the museum’s permanent collection,” Anne Collins Smith, Chief Curator at NOMA, said in a news release. The show was organized by the Birmingham Museum of Art and will run January 30 through May 3, 2026. NOMA will host several events during the run of the exhibition, including an opening night for members of the museum January 30, a series of clay sculpture workshops for those over 55, gallery talks and a book club. Click here for more information. ...read more read less